Gearing for washing-machines.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907. W. W. TERRIPF. GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNEZS, 1907.

THE NORRIS PETERS co., wAsmmncn, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT o EIoE.

GEARING FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Se t, 10, 1907.

Application filed June 25,1907. Serial No. 380,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WALLACE TERRIFF, a citizen of Canada, residing at Portland, in the county of lonia and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Gearing for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in gearing for washing machines.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of gearing for washing machines, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient construction adapted to be operated by a continuous rotary movement of a hand wheel, or similar operating means, and capable of raising and lowering and of reversely rotating a combined rubbing and squeezing device, whereby the clothes will be washed by both a rubbing and squeezing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide gearing of this character, adapted to cause the combined rubbing and squeezing device to descend gradually upon and yieldably engage the clothes, instead of permitting the said device to drop abruptly to the bottom of the tub and jar or stop the gearing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine provided with gearing, constructed in accordance with this invention. I Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, the segmental gear and the cams being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the segmental gear and the cams being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line :r-x of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line y-y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially on the line zz of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view, illustrating the arrangement of the spiral slot of the stem of the rotary rubber.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a vertical shaft or spindle, journaled at its upper end in a tubular bearing 3 of a substantially cylindrical hood or casing 4, which is mounted upon the lid or cover 5 of the washing machine body 6. The tub or washing machine body is preferably supported by legs and may be constructed in any preferred manner. The hood or casing 4, which is preferably provided with a dome-shaped top, is split vertically being composed of two sections, constructed of pressed steel, or other suitable material and secured together by bolts 8, or other suitable fastening devices. The bolts 8 pass through registering perforations of ears 9, and the hood or casing is also provided at the bottom with a horizontal annular flange 10, whichis pierced by screws, or other suitable fastening devices for securing it to the lid or cover of the washing machine body. The sections of the hood or casing are provided with vertical slots or openings 11 to permit the gearing hereinafter described to be conveniently lubricated. The tubular bearing 3, which is closed at its upper end, receives the upper end of the shaft or spindle and permits the same to slide and rotate.

The lower end of the shaft or spindle fits within a tubular stem 12 of a rotary rubber 13, which is provided with a lower rubbing face 14 to operate in conjunction with the bottom 15 of the tub or body 6 of the washing machine. The bottom 15 is provided with a suitable rubbing surface, and the stem 12 has a spiral slot 16 for the reception of a screw 17, or other suitable projection of the shaft or spindle, whereby relative longitudinal movement of the stem and the shaft or spindle will produce a rotary movement of the rubber 13. A coiled spring 18 is arranged within the tubular stem and engages the lower end of the shaft or spindle 1 to cushion the rubber and to permit the same to adjust itself to the thickness of the clothes being washed. When the rubber inits downward movement engages the clothes, the spring yields and permits the shaft or spindle to move downwardly into the hollow stem, and this movement of the shaft or spindle within the stem causes the rubber, through the said spiral slot 16 and projection 17, to rotate, whereby the clothes are simultaneously rubbed and squeezed. The rubber, which is also rotated by the gearing hereinafter described, is of a diameter slightly less than the bottom of the tub or body, and when-it engages the clothes, it expels the water from them, and when it leaves the clothes, the water and suds will again soak into the clothes. By the combined rubbing and squeezing action of the rubber and by expelling the water from the clothes, the latter are rapidly and thoroughly washed. I

The cover of the washing machine body is provided with a central opening 19, and a bearing plate 20 is secured to the lower face of the lid or cover. The bearing plate is provided with depending tubular portions 21 to receive the hollow stem 12, which slides and rotates within the same.

Mounted upon the vertically movable shaft or spindle is a segmental gear 22, oppositely tapered from the center to each end and comprising a pair of parallel inner and outer plates 23 and 24, and upper and lower cylindrical teeth 25 and 26, consisting of rollers mounted on suitable bolts or spindles. The plates 23 and 24, which are oppositely tapered from the center to each end, are connected at their terminals by cylindrical teeth 27, consisting of rollers mounted on bolts. The cylindrical teeth at the upper and lower portions of the plates form oppositely inclined upper and lower racks, adapted to mesh with a pinion 28, mounted on a drive shaft 29, which is journaled in a suitable bearing 30 of the hood or casing and in a bearing of a supporting arm 31. The drive shaft is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 32, or other suitable operating means, and is continuously rotated in the same direction to operate the gearing. The segmental gear is arranged concentric with the shaft or spindle and is connected with the same by diametrically arranged bolts 33 and 34. The vertical shaft or spindle also carries upper, lower and intermediate cams 35, 36 and 37, arranged in spaced relation with the segmental gear for maintaining the pinion continually in mesh with the same. The upper and lower cams consist of substantially circular loops, set at an inclination and inclined in opposite directions. The loops, whichencircle the shaft or spindle, are supported by radially arranged fastening devices 38 and 39, and they converge toward the intermediate cam, and are provided with arms or extensions 40 and 41, which are secured to the intermediate cam at the inner face thereof. The intermediate cam, which is arranged substan tially in a vertical position, is spaced from the shaft or spindle and is provided at its upper and lower ends with substantially L-shaped arms 42, which are secured to the shaft or spindle by the radial fastening devices 38.

The inner end of the drive shaft extends beyond the pinion, and is provided with an anti-friction roller or sleeve 43, which is adapted to run on the cams, which present continuous curved edges, and form guides for the roller 43 to maintain the pinion in engagement with the oppositely inclined racks of the segmental gear. The rotary movement of the pinion actuates the segmental gear and causes the same to revolve and rotate the vertical shaft or spindle, and when the pinion engages either one of the end cylindrical teeth 27, it will cause the segmental gear to move upwardly or downwardly according to the position of the pinion with relation to the said segmental gear. When the pinion is located beneath the segmental gear, and engages one of the end teeth, the segmental gear will be moved downwardly and will be caused to pass beneath the pinion, which maintains a relatively fixed position with relation to the longitudinal movement of the segmental gear. The reverse operation takes place when the pinion is arranged above the segmental gear and engages one of the teeth. The segmental gear will then be moved upwardly and will be caused to pass over the pinion. The inclined racks, formed by the tapering of the segmental gear, produces a gradual longitudinal movement of the shaft or spindle simultaneously with the rotary movement thereof. This prevents the combined squeezing and rubbing device from dropping suddenly to the bottom of the tub or receptacle and thereby jarring or stopping-the gearing.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement, of a segmental gear connected with the shaft, a pinion to mesh with the gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in engagement with the segmental gear, the latter being tapered to produce a gradual longitudinal movement of the shaft simultaneously with the rotary movement thereof.

2. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement, of a segmental gear connected with the shaft, a pinion to mesh with the gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in engagement with the segmental gear, the latter being oppositely tapered from an intermediate point to the ends thereof to produce a gradual longitudinal movement of the shaft simultaneously with the 1'0- tary movement of the same.

3. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement, of a segmental gear connected with the shaft and composed of spaced side plates and connecting teeth, a pinion meshing with the segmental gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in mesh with the said gear.

4. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement, of a segmental gear connected with the shaft and composed of spaced plates oppositely tapered from an intermediate point to the ends thereof, and upper and lower connecting teeth forming oppositely inclined racks, a pinion meshing with the gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in mesh with the said gear.

5. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft, of a segmental gear connected with the same, a pinion meshing with the gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in mesh with the gear, said guiding means comprising spaced loop-shaped cams encircling the shaft, and an intermediate cam connecting the loop-shaped cams.

6. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft, of a segmental gear connected with the same, a pinion meshing with the gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in mesh with the gear, said guiding means comprising an intermediate cam having arms secured to the shaft, and spaced loop-shaped cams encircling the shaft and provided with arms or extensions secured to the intermediate cam.

7. In gearing for washing machines, the combination with a shaft, of an oppositelytapered segmental gear connected with the shaft, a pinion meshing with the gear, and guiding means for maintaining the pinion in mesh with the gear, said guiding means embodying spaced converging loop-shaped cams encircling the shaft, and an in termediate cam connected with the shaft and with the loop-shaped cams.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WALLACE TERRIFF.

Witnesses \VILLIAM F. SELLECK, I D. FnRRIs. 

